Venetian blind



y 2, 1940- L. c. WILLIAMS 2,205,796

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Sept. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 A; Inventor Aiiomeys y 2, 1940 c. WILLEAMS 2,286,796

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Sept. 1.4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor .z.army/2'47: M

A iiorneys Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

VENETIAN BLIND Lisle C. Williams, Memphis, Tenn.

Application September 14, 1939, Serial No. 294,952

4 Claims. (Cl. 156-17) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in Venetian blinds and has for its primary object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of thischaracter comprising novel means through the medium of which the blindsmay be expeditious-1y and firmly secured in position in a window,particularly the lower portion thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a blind of theaforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use,compact, light in weight, attractive in appearance, and which may bemanufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a Venetian blind constructed inaccordance with the present invention, showing the device installed in awindow with the slats in open position.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through the blind. I

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of theblind, taken at right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the upper portion of a slightmodification, showing the sockets or brackets in vertical section.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of one of the I sprockets or brackets.

Fig. '7 is a view in end elevation of one of the rails, showing theslidable rod in cross section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that thereference numerals I and 2 designate upper and lower rails which, ofcourse, may be of any suitable material, preferably wood. Connecting therails I and 2 are ladder tapes 3 comprising straps 4 of suitableflexible material between which cross straps or members 5 extend atspaced points. Mounted on the cross straps 5 are slats Ii. The slats 6have formed therein transverse slots I (see Fig. 4) which accommodatelengths of cord 8 having their end portions secured to the rails I and.2, as at 9. It may be well to here state that the cords 8 simply securethe slats I5 against longitudinal movement in the ladder tapes 3.

The rails I and 2 have formed in one end portion longitudinallyextending sockets II] which terminate in reduced inner end portions I I.This is shown to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The sockets I0 areclosed by aperturedplates I2 5 which are secured on one end of the railsI and 2. Slidably and rotatably mounted in the sockets II] are rods I3which project through the apertures provided therefor in the plates I2.The inner end portions of the rods I3 are slidably engaged in thereduced portions II of the sockets 0.

Mounted on the outer end portions of the rods I3 are suction cups I4 ofrubber or other suitable resilient material. Fixed on the rods I3 andoperable in the sockets III are collars I5. Coil springs I6 encircle therods I3 in the sockets Ill. The outer ends of the coil springs I6 areengaged with the collars I5 for yieldingly urging the rods I3 outwardly.The inner ends of the coils I6 bear against the shoulders ll which areformed by the reduced portions II of the sockets II) in the rails I and2.

The other end portions of the rails I and 2 have formed longitudinallytherein sockets I8. Mounted in the outer portions of the sockets I8 arebushings IS in which rods 20 are threaded for longitudinal adjustment.Mounted on the outer end portions of the adjustable rods 20 are suctioncups 2|.

It is thought that the manner in which the blind functions will bereadily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Of course, thesuction cups I 4 and 2| are engageable with the opposed sides of thewindow frame 22 in a manner to firmly but removably secure the rails Iand 2 in position therebetween. By simply rocking the rails I and 2 onthe elements I3 and 20,

the slats 6 may be conveniently tilted as desired.

The coil springs I6 cause the suction cups I4 and 2| to firmly grip thesides of the window frame. The threadedly mounted rods 20 permitadjustmentsto be conveniently made for positioning the blind centrallyin windows of different widths. To remove the blind from the window, itis only necessary to slide the rods I3 inwardly in the. rails I and 2against the tension of the coil springs I6.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, it will beobserved that brackets or 0 sockets 23 are provided in lieu of suctioncups for supporting the rails I and 2 in position in the window frame.The brackets 23 are of suitable metal and comprise substantiallyU-shaped intermediate portions 24 having apertures or 55 openings 25therein. The portions 2 of the brackets 23 terminate in feet. 26 whichare mounted on thrust plates 21. Screws 28 in the end portions of thebrackets 23, firmly secure said brackets in position on the opposedsides of the window frame 22. In this form of the invention the outerend portions of the elements I3 and 20 are adapted to enter the openings25 in the brackets 23 and engage the plates 21. This is shown toadvantage in Fig. 5 of the drawmgs.

It is believed that the many advantages of a Venetian blind constructedin accordance with the present invention will be readily understood andalthough preferred embodiments of the device-are as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that further modifications and changesin the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall withinthe scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A Venetian blind comprising upper and lower rails, ladder tapesconnecting said rails, slats mounted in said ladder tapes, eacli railhaving a socket in one end portion, each socket terminating in a reducedinner portion providing a shoulder in the rail, an apertured platemounted on said one end of the rail over the socket, a rod slidablymounted in the socket and projecting through the plate, the-inner endportion of said rod being engaged in-the reduced portion of the socket,a collar fixed on the rod and operable in the socket, and a. coil springencircling the rod in the socket and having one end engaged with theshoulder and its other end engaged wlth the collar for yieldingly urgingthe rod outwardly for engagement with thereto.

3. A Venetian blind comprising a rail, rods slidably mounted in the endportion of said rail and projecting longitudinally therefrom, andbrackets adapted to be mounted on a window frame for supporting the railthereon,. said brackets including substantially U-shaped, aperturedintermediate portions for the reception of the rods and furtherincluding thrust plates traversing the U-shaped portions and engageableby the outer ends of the rods.

4. A Venetian blind comprising upper and said rails and projectingtherefrom, suction cups connected with the outer ends of the rods,spring means for forcing one rod of each rail outwardly, flexiblemembers extending between the railsand connected therewith and slatsconnected with said flexible members.

LISLE c. WILLIAMS.

lower rails, rods carried by the end portions of 1

